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Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast
The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast delivers industry-leading insights and trends to propel your organisation’s procurement strategy forward. Hosted by Richard McIntosh and Mike Jansen, Partners at H&Z, and Senior Advisor Martina Buchhauser, this show is the go-to resource for every CPO looking to up their game.
Join Richard, Martina and Mike as they sit down with industry leaders and experts to uncover the latest trends and insights in procurement, from exploring the transformative power of technology, data, digitisation and AI, to unraveling the complexities of leadership, competencies and talent management. Discover strategies for cost reduction and value creation, gain a deeper understanding of the impact of inflation, the economy, and geopolitics, and learn how to build resilient supply chains while effectively managing risks. We also delve into the crucial topics of ESG and the circular economy, exploring their implications for procurement leaders.
Tune in to the Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast to unlock the knowledge and expertise you need to stay at the cutting-edge of the industry and drive meaningful change within your organisation.
Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast
Ep. 20 - Driving Procurement Excellence through Digitalisation at Scale - with Karl Poulsen
Procurement transformation isn't just about systems. It's about scale, culture, and strategy.
In this episode, host Richard McIntosh speaks with Karl Poulsen, CPO at Hiscox, about leading a greenfield procurement transformation by leveraging digital tools not just to modernise, but to embed excellence at scale.
Karl shares how he moved the organisation from spreadsheets and silos to a centralised, tech-enabled function. He explains how automation, governance, and scalability were built with compliance in mind—but designed to support consistency and growth across a complex, international business. From reducing a 10,000-supplier sprawl to navigating cultural change across regions, Karl reveals what it takes to turn procurement into a true engine of business value—and why the hardest part wasn’t the technology, but shifting mindsets and ways of working.
You’ll learn:
1. How to build a business case for procurement tech from a greenfield start
2. Why cultural change is harder and more important than system implementation
3. How automation drives compliance, risk management, and sustainability
4. Where the biggest financial gains come from in digital procurement
5. What to prioritise post-rollout to improve adoption and user experience
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Get in touch with Karl Poulsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-poulsen-a6bb2112/
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About the host Richard McIntosh:
Richard McIntosh, Partner at H&Z Management Consulting, has spent over 23 years helping procurement leaders succeed. Richard is an avid rugby fan, and a children's rugby coach, with a passion for helping children to become their best selves through sports. He spends his time outside of work with his wife and children.
Get in touch with Richard McIntosh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcintosh-richard/
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The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.
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